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The coffee was delicious, (thank you Coffee Talk)  and the bars and cookies delectable-- as the Taylors Falls community threw a party November 5  marking the 145th anniversary of the founding of the library association.  

The action forming the  official support of the beloved Library was written down Saturday, Nov 4 1871.  The association bylaws and “constitution” however, were not adopted until a follow-up committee meeting in the drugstore of Richard Combs four days later. (This was at Ravine and Bench Streets, but the drugstore is gone.)
Ever since, Taylors Falls has been able to boast one of the few city-owned libraries in the state...which is independent of any regional or county multi-facility group.
Taylors Falls Library looks  the part in every sense.

The building was a tailor shop in its first incarnation. The front room is open to the mainstreet with interior spaces for storage and the family living area of tailor Mr. John Jacob Spengler towards the rear.  The gingerbread trimmed-building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.  It is a Taylors Falls Heritage Preservation site currently.

The title “public library” was attached in 1919.

The library still uses a card catalogue to inventory its books.

Librarian Diane Dedon  said she is a direct line to the patrons, and she wants people to know that whatever author or book they want to find, she is there to help.
“I wish people knew what a great place this is.”  She added, a bigger library may get sent several copies of a hot, new book, but there’ll be a much longer wait list there too, she said.

Even if you settle for checking out a book that’s third or fourth on your list, the physical act of stepping into the wall-to-wall book-lined room will lift your spirits.

Pristine millwork (shelves added in 1888) and awesome arched doors in the midsection look as fresh as when the building was constructed in 1857.

The Taylors Falls Library also has a wonderful children’s reading room, with tons of true classics and new books.  We spotted one called “Bambi’s Children.”  Who knew?  It is in this room that Mrs Claus will be reading children’s stories during the Lighting Festival, November 25,  from 5 to 6 p.m.  

The Lightining Festival Parade steps off at 6.

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